You’ll see the two tall left-handers five hours before a game. Madison Bumgarner runs sprints on the warning track, while Clayton Kershaw goes through towel drills, throws the ball off the padding of the wall and tweaks his mechanics. It’s a sight you’ll see often if you cover one of these two teams, and during one of the early, early workouts last season, Bumgarner decided to approach the Dodgers ace.

“I made a point to talk to him,” Bumgarner said Friday. “That’s one of the nicest guys in the game and it’s been nice to get to know him. He’s a really good guy. He’s one of my good friends now in the game.”

They’re similar in many ways. Both had their first extended big league seasons at the age of 20 and both have held up since, as big, left-handed aces for rival squads. Kershaw has the Cy Young and is about to get a second one. Bumgarner, well, he’s got the two rings.

He said that his conversations with Kershaw usually aren’t about baseball, although they did talk about Brandon Belt yesterday. Kershaw grew up facing Belt in Texas and told Bumgarner about the first baseman’s past as a talented pitcher.

A day later, the Bumgarner and Kershaw duked it out on the field. Forget about the fact that the Dodgers are days away from clinching the division and the Giants are a couple of weeks away from the golf course.

“Any time you’re facing the Dodgers, it’s always fun,” Bumgarner said.
It’s always going to be a battle, too, especially with Bumgarner and Kershaw on the mound. Kershaw entered the night with a 1.32 ERA in 21 appearances against the Giants but was hit around in the seventh. Bumgarner was done by that point, but the rally helped him pick up his first win since August 2. He’s 8-3 with a 2.58 ERA against the Dodgers, and he’s gone 18 consecutive starts this season without giving up more than three earned runs.

“I was happy for Bum as much as anybody,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “It was good to get him a win.”

For the first six innings, Bochy wasn’t thinking about Bumgarner’s record. He simply sat back and watched as two of the game’s best young left-handers went head to head.

“You had two guys that were really throwing great,” he said, smiling and leaning back in his chair. “Two outstanding left-handers, and our guy has had a great year for us. You appreciate both of their talents. I’m a fan at times like this.”

There will be many more nights like this. Bumgarner is just 24, Kershaw 25, and the Dodgers will soon lock their left-hander up, just as the Giants did with Bumgarner. He got the win tonight, and afterward sounded like a man looking forward to the next meeting with his new friend.

“It doesn’t matter where we’re at or where they’re at (in the standings),” he said. “It was fun.”

— So many other standouts tonight, starting with the guys who closed it out. Look, no offense to Jean Machi, but you’re not going to find many Giants fans who felt comfortable with Adrian Gonzalez strolling to the plate in that situation. Bochy has a ton of lefties in his bullpen, but really, he’s down to one that he really trusts in those spots, and he saved Javier Lopez for the eighth. So it was Machi, and he got it done.

It reminded me of this George Kontos moment against Matt Kemp last year. “What a great job he did,” Bochy said of Machi. “And then Lopez comes in and gets the big double play.”

Henry Schulman of The Chronicle reported earlier that the Giants have started talking to Hunter Pence about a long-term deal, something Pence had hoped to lock up last offseason. He’s not the only free agent making a late push. Lopez has given up just seven hits in his last 56 matchups with left-handed hitters.

Sergio Romo closed it out with a kick-save, clinching his 10th straight save. He’s now got 34 in his first season as the full-time closer.

“There’s a lot of pride here,” he said. “We want to finish strong. We still feel we have something to play for.”

— Bochy when asked about the pride factor: “They’re fighting hard. They did last night and they did tonight. This is the time of year you do find out about guys.”

The Giants keep finding out that Juan Perez has a glove that belongs here for years to come. The bat? That’s a work in progress. But Perez is already one of the best defensive outfielders in the National League.

“He hasn’t been here long, but we know he’s an unbelievable outfielder,” Bumgarner said. “I was hoping he would go into the stands and jump over the fence to catch Uribe’s ball.”

Off the top of my head, Perez probably has three of the top five plays this season by a Giants outfielder: The one at Chase Field, the one in Petit’s near-perfecto and the one tonight. I’d throw in Pence’s catch in Lincecum’s no-hitter, of course, and I’m sure you could throw a Gregor Blanco catch or two into the mix.

— Brett Pill entered the night with one hit in nine at-bats against Kershaw, but it was a homer. Against Kershaw, that practically qualifies as red-hot. He broke this one open with a two-run single that went just over Michael Young’s glove.

“We hit balls hard all night, so eventually you knew someone was going to break through,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to kill it or anything. You know you’re going to get at least one pitch to hit. I just tried put the barrel on it and then you hope that good things happen.”

That was a huge hit for Pill, who had been struggling. The Giants want him to become a go-to bench guy against left-handers, and Kershaw is the best in the game.

“You put the ball in play and good things happen,” Bochy said.

— With the win, the Giants pretty much guaranteed that they’ll be 3,000 miles away when the Dodgers celebrate. The magic number is now four, so the Diamondbacks would have to lose twice to the Rockies for the Dodgers to have a chance at clinching on Sunday. Even then, the Dodgers would have to win the next two games.

— Think the Giants have a new plan against Yasiel Puig? Bumgarner was hitting 94 mph against Puig and went fastball in, fastball in, fastball in, fastball in, fastball in … and then a few more fastballs in on the hands. It’s hard to flip your bat when half of it is rolling through the infield grass.

Post navigation

Giants better sign Pence. Nice hit for Pill tonight. Get 2 more starters, a left fielder and some bench help. Giants will be great in 2014.

Vegas Giants Fan

I don’t get to see many Giants games here in Vegas so it was awesome to watch a great Giants victory.

I have a question for those of you who have been using the new blog. Are the archives gone or is there a way to access them?

Thanks. VGF

carmot

Ha ha, gee Alex… About Pence? gee, let’$ $ee… Contract year for him and hi$ agent? lol. It’s almost starting to feel like it i$n’t about money now (I know he said “no home team discount”)… He’s starting to add YEAR$ to his deal now…

It’s a joy to watch Perez play, I’m hoping he makes one of the 2014 bench spots.

Speaking of Bum, I can’t help but think he’d get along great with Derek Law if/when he shows up in SF. Dunno, just a ‘hunch.’

Any notion from Bochy/Sabean on an attempt to extend Romo this winter? Hmm, he’s been amazing. And Lopez, he’$ about the best in the biz at what he doe$.

This was great. For just a while, we could forget about our shortfalls this season, and just watch a great game, with excitement… And some pride. Yeah, we…

Notes: San Jose added two pitchers from Salem-Keizer to their playoff roster. (Pat Young – RHP and Tyler Rogers – RHP)
Young started the series clinching game against Visalia in the first round.

San Jose also added Augusta 3B Mitchell Delfino to their playoff roster. Delfino: .270/13/76 – .324/.413/.737
Delfino led Augusta in home runs and RBI’s. Delfino was 6th in the Sally league in RBI’s. He’s hitting .300 in the playoffs so far. (re-post from end of last thread)

Minor League Update.

E-B

Awwwwwesome win today!

Perez’s catch was spectacular.

Machi’s KO of AGonzo in the 7th was a game saver.

Romo’s foot was in the right place at the right time in the 9th…oh, yeah, and he hung in there like a champ.

carmot

Gone from “us” I think. But SJMN should have the comment archives, and DISQUS has options to re-load them… Some other WordPress comment software apps could be *much* better solutions, but I dunno if SJMN will re-load old comments.

Alex? Maybe after this beta period? DISQUS is pretty terrible. But the upside is a *little* less trollishness. And being able to type words like “sunglasses.”

E-B

VGF, fantastic that you got a chance to watch one of the best games of the year.

As for the archives, I don’t know. (maybe you could email Alex?)

Thx for you update on our future Giants–always enjoy your summaries.

Vegas Giants Fan

Thanks Carmot.

Eleuthero

What made this win great for me was that Madison finally got a “W”. I didn’t think it was going to happen since it looked like another Giants offensive crapout but they came through off a guy who has owned them in the past. They played like it counted and in many ways, they all do.

MLBSF

Don’t forget I was the one who stood up for Pence all year while many of you went through the roof and said we should have traded him at the deadline. This is why they keep me around. To add common sense to this board. And knowledge. And accuracy. And Truthfulness. smh

carmot

A game side note:

It was awesome to see Rags finally has that elbow brace off. It’s always been a tough thing for me to see on his left arm. He is an amazing part of our Giants “core” and staff.

I hope he’s healing up well.

Eleuthero

I’m surprised other teams haven’t tried to jam Puig on other occasions. He’s shown power even when leaning out. I think his batting average will come down to earth in the playoffs unless he stops fishing for outside breaking balls. Romo’s slider made him look pretty ordinary.

Bumgarner hitting 93 and 94 in September? Remember last year when he was sitting upper 80’s and something was not quite right (and you felt a little panic).

I said this yesterday:

Kershaw>Bumgarner

Well, not by much. You could probably slip a baseball card between the two. There’s a lot of ways to evaluate pitchers and Kershaw would come out ahead in most metrics. A good way to evaluate pitchers IMO, is OPS against. These are the top 10 starters in 2013 MLB by OPS against:

There’s a reason the Giants should have gone after Anibal Sanchez last year – the feelings of Zito be damned. Fans should question the ability of the Giants front office to think ahead – or play baseball chess. It’s often apparent they may not be the headiest bunch in MLB.

Guest

Angel Pagan
10.25

Marco Scutaro
6.7

Brandon Belt
2

Buster Posey
11.3

Hunter Pence
17

Pablo Sandoval
8.25

Marlon Byrd
7

Brandon Crawford
0.53

Hector Sanchez
0.53

Joaquin Arias
1.5

Tony Abreu
0.8

Juan Perez
0.53

Brett Pill
0.53

Matt Cain
20.8

Madison Bumgarner
3.95

Masahiro Tanaka
12

Tim Lincecum
12

Ryan Vogelsong
6.5

Yusmeiro Petit
2

George Kontos
0.53

Javier Lopez
4.5

Jeremy Affeldt
6

Heath Hembree
0.53

Santiago Casilla
4.5

Sergio Romo
5.5

——————–
Total

145.73

Long Time Giants Fan

I was thinking the same thing about Pence. Amazing how much better he has gotten as he has gotten closer to signing a new contract. Let’s hope that if the Giants do re-sign him, he doesn’t spend the first two months of next season looking like he can’t hit the ball worth a darn.

ClutchUp

Can you do that withOUT triple spacing?

ClutchUp

…wrong again…

Footasaurus Rex

I’m not sure. That’s how it handled the separate excel columns. But then I deleted it. But I guess the software thought it was so important that it should be posted as “guest”.

ClutchUp

Javy has THREE WS rings. I say he stays here even tho he’s building that new house on the east coast.

mario fields

go giants

mario fields

Hey Clutch, long time no talk to huh?

ClutchUp

Gone cept the story line. Alex can access…

Long Time Giants Fan

I wasn’t available to participate in yesterday’s chat live, but I read the transcript later and found the info really interesting. However, I did want to point out something. AT&T Park will not be paid off in 2017. The owners refinanced earlier this season, using the equity to develop Lot A as office space, businesses and I guess maybe condos too. No new date for when park will be paid off. I saw this info in John Shea’s Sunday Chron column around June. Also was interested that Alex essentially said the owners could care less that Giants are so awful this season. I guess it doesn’t affect the bottom line, so who cares. Also read a John Shea interview with Brian Wilson that he did in early August, and Wilson said he knew he wouldn’t be back with Giants this season as soon as he got hurt early last season. He seemed to understand it, and wasn’t bothered by it.

Uhhh, I never said that. — Alex

Joel Rogers

If Belt was such a great Pitcher in college or High School, Why not approach him about converting back? I know his bat is heating up and all that but we are going to need another lefty next season

Footasaurus Rex

Is it me or are the owners coming across as dirtbag aristocrats? Nuekom getting nuked may have been the beginning of the end. It’s hard to root for those guys, but certainly entrenched to root for the players wearing the logo on the front of the jersey.

I agree. The owners act very ‘corporate’ which doesn’t jive with my love of baseball since I was about 7. I know things change, but still…..

Bapah

Does anyone have the secret to publishing a .pdf here?

Long Time Giants Fan

I knew that teams would eventually figure out how to pitch to Puig. I had a co-worker telling me how wonderful he was when he was hitting over 400. I said ‘wait a while’. It did seem to take a while, but his average is now dropping. He seems to be such a jerk, with the bat flips, that the drop in average makes you feel good. Somebody really needs to straighten him out, or he’s going to get thrown at a lot.

Phil

He sustained an injury before becoming a pro (can’t remember details) and can’t pitch anymore.

Keep’n It Real

I’m glad you mentioned your Kershaw>Bumgarner post of yesterday. As others (not necessarily on this blog) have mentioned, Bumgarner is even younger that Strasburg…but doesn’t get nearly the hype. I’m also going to add that the Dodgers’ pitchers haven’t performed in post-season yet…which is completely different than regular season (ask Barry, prior to syringing).

Keep’n It Real

Your comment about the front office has some validity, but we’ll see after this off-season. I’m not asking them to match the Dodgers payroll, but if they don’t legitimately enhance LF and SP…while keeping Pence at a minimum, then it’s a “fail” in my book and I know a lot of the GIants fans will be “mentally” standing outside of the Giants Front Offices with some tar and feathers.

Keep’n It Real

Happiness is seeing the big “L” next to Kershaw’s name in the box score. I respect the heck out of him, but we don’t seem to be as much of his “female dog” as we have in the past.

Long Time Giants Fan

Yeah, it was so good to beat Kershaw, since we rarely do. And to have our best pitcher, Bum, do it, makes it all that much better. Bum’s teammates finally give him a win!

Keep’n It Real

Retiring #22

For those of you who agree with this…Larry Baer was on Tom Tolbert’s KNBR Show on Thursday and seemed very open to this idea. In fact, he mentioned to Byrnes that there was some very good arguments in support of such a decision and to “stay tuned”. I have been so passionate about this, I actually called into Byrnes on KNBR, when he first discussed his blog and wanted fan input. Bottom line for me…#22 made the SF Giants relevant again after 90/100 loss seasons of going nowhere, He put the strut back into being a SF Giant. He was the core of a team that finally brought the WS to SF…even if they lost to the syringe brothers. Oh yeah…they were already good before they brought that spoiled CF from Pittsburgh. As a lifelong Giants fan, I have no issue tracing back the recent successes to the turnaround #22 started with this organization.

Need further proof? That #22 on Clayton Kershaw’s back is because he was a Will Clark fan growing up. When a certain HOF pitcher pays homage like that, then you know that Will Clark is deserving to have his jersey number retired.

stickman

Don’t care for this format. Posted a measured response to MLBSF’s claims last night and it simply disappeared. No accountability, it seems. Also, there’s a twittery effect where posters feel almost obliged to keep it short and relatively stupid rather than engage in any type of acute and astute analysis. Old system had some glitches but methinks there needs be some re-reform.

Bapah

Why not bring Kershaw here and let him be the last one to wear the number?

Keep’n It Real

If only…

That would be an even bigger shock than having BB come here from Pittsburgh.

ClutchUp

Hmm if the pdf opens up top in a browser, could you not copy the link and paste here?

ClutchUp

He hurt his arm while pitching in college.

totalfan62

KIR: it would also be ironic in a good way that Jack Clark would also be honored, at least a little bit. From 1978-1983 Jack was one of the key players on our team, especially in that playoff push in late ’82. The placard should simply say CLARK 22, in honor of Will…and Jack to a lesser extent.

Very nice win for our Giants last night. Four consecutive singles off Kershaw to plate three runs was impressive. Pill doing nothing more than protecting the plate, but delivers that game-winning, two-RBI single. Nice.
Good life in the boys on the rail in the late innings further confirms that the Giants are still playing to win as many games as they can. I’m calling it: 76-86 and third place. Keep playing as they have the past week, it’s doable.

Keep’n It Real

I respect your opinion, but that wouldn’t work for me. Jack Clark was nowhere close to being the “Giant” Will Clark was. Jack was a buffoon at times and went out of his way to force a trade to the Cardinals (the information is out there on the web). He DIDN’T want to be with the Giants, so he loses any attachment to a retired #22. Will still wanted to be a Giant, but they decided to keep Robbie Thompson and let Will go because of $$. He didn’t want to leave. I also have zero issue believing that #25 had some influence in Will being let go. As Will said in a CSN Documentary, “I had no problem telling Barry about things, even though he was a multiple MVP. We’re ballplayers. (paraphrase)”. Barry didn’t like anyone telling him what to do,

stickman

Foostsie: OPS against may be the best of several metrics by which to measure effectiveness of pitchers. If you add in BAA, ERA and several other standards our 24 YO lefty is consistently 4th or 5th best in virtually every category.
If those cheapskate owners can get away from their corporate mindsets and look at the long-term valuation of the franchise instead of that more immediate bottom-line they will go out and get that #3 starter, ideally a guy who has two more good seasons left on his arm, segueing neatly into pipeline production from a rich field.

I’m glad Larry is considering retiring 22 but Byrnes can’t get the credit. Many here have banged that drum since 2010.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

And for those who get upset when Belt sits against Kershaw, you really shouldn’t – he’s been in there most of time, and his slash line is terrible: .111/.200/.148 OPS .348. Pill isn’t much better, but his OPS is .583, and he has produced two game winning hits.

And this is no biased knock against Belt, he should start nearly every game, but there shouldn’t be any angst for him if he sits when Kershaw is out there.

South City Jim

Good call Alex on the catch. I immediately thought of Christian’s catch. Even though the Dodgers scored two runs that inning, I believe the catch changed the momentum, or at least lit a fire under the G’s.

Michael Scott

more of the this moderating totally reasonable posts? get new software or learn how to use what you have.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Re: Crawford vs. Arias against Kershaw

Crawford .071/.071/0.71
Arias .182/.217/..227

No great shakes either way, but can you really fault Bochy for playing Arias over Crawford? I can see making a case by magnifying the defensive difference between Arias/Crawford, but I don’t think the Giants think they give up much whenever they got to Arias anywhere on the infield. There’s also may be an element of protecting Crawford on Bochy’s part.

I’ve liked most #22’s so Kershaw’s no exception but his nickname was reinforced with that photo of he and Bum at the top of the page. Opie Kershaw to a tee.

Keep’n It Real

You and i know that is the case, but if Byrnes gets the credit…that’s the way it goes. I’m also OK if this is a precursor for #25, since his HOF inductance may not happen or is delayed for a long time. You always have your email to prove you pushed for it before Byrnes’ blog piece 🙂

Guess you called it first. Bet it reminded a lot of fans of last year’s catch.

Michael Scott

no problem sitting him for a major league hitter. despite his ‘thank you very much’ duck fart, pill is not a major league hitter.

Michael Scott

sitting crawford against all lefthanders might be something they have to consider for next year. he’s helpless against them. .204 this year in 140+ ab, .217 career.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Yes, Pill is a prototypical AAAA guy. But in the three or four times Bochy started him against Kershaw he has produced two game winning hits.

Is that dumb luck, or does it say something about Bochy’s managerial skill?

mario fields

Good thanks clutch
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

ClutchUp

KIR: You and Anti-Lasorda and I have been all over this since way before Byrnes. He is LOOKING for a SUBJECT to divert or distract the latest news that he wrote about when he played he was clean and a lot of guys were not. NOW, players are taking him to task about the fact that he was as hopped up as a RACE horse and if one listens close on the Tolbert, Baer interview one will hear Tolbert chide Byrnes that he should have quit blogging while he was a head.
Meanwhile the Giants Front Office HAVE responded that they think it was Byrnes who led with the “retire 22 campaign”
Sad.

South City Jim

On the other subject Baer touched on, love Kruk and Kuip and nice to see Kuip on the Frick ballot, but I vote for no broadcaster in any sport to get in any of the media HOF’s until Bill King is in at least one. Complete travesty. What’s the logic? He was so good that if we vote him in all the others already in will pale in comparison? Reminds me of a NY DJ who once said that when someone gave him the Ramones debut album back in 1976 it immediately made 2/3’s of the station’s playlist unlistenable.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

I agree. They may have to pick his starts against lefties in 2014.

Moooooooooose

What about a closer? Don’t they need a closer? I thought you said they needed a closer.

Moooooooooose

Where you went wrong was reading his “claims” to begin with.

ClutchUp

Something on the INSIDE is “up”. 2013 brought us much more of Kuiper solo on the radio and 9 out of 10 times he is fabulous SOLO doing it all. Flemming is in Oklahoma doing Football today and he now has such a big National football committment that Miller-Kruke and Kuiper are all they have at times and we all know that Krukow is never doing play by play save Spring Training.
Greenwald (Doug) will be here maybe for a couple of late September games.
So far I have hear Miller, Flemming and Kuiper Solo on the radio side with Mikey soley TV.

ClutchUp

Last nights post game Latrine Fire Works end of game wrap was hysterical. Kuiper was the lead in the booth and from moment one he had a mouthful of something?
Cashews no doubt.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Ownage or Hot Streak Files:

In this entry, Kershaw owns Hunter Pence (0.158 OPS in 38 PA), but Hunter’s OPS over the last two-weeks is > 1.200. Which trend wins?

Last night it was the Hot Streak – one for three against Kershaw.

channelclemente

There are actually some legs under the rumor Krukow may be offered an assistant’s job with another MLB team. I thought it was a joke when I first heard it, but maybe not.

South City Jim

I say this as neither an A’s fan or an A’s hater but as someone that admires Ron Washington: it’s kind of sad seeing the Rangers swallow the olive again. Darvish does what he can but he’s seemingly the only money player on that entire roster.

channelclemente

Michael, you’re shameless.

channelclemente

Somebody just has to teach Perez how to hit. Maybe send him to Japan to learn to slap hit. He’s just too valuable an asset to abandon, IMO.

channelclemente

Got give the A’s a kudo or two, I’ve rarely seen a team that could pull pitches out of the opposition like those guys. In the post season, you can almost rank the potential quality of their opposition by how deep and good that oppositions bullpen is.

South City Jim

From a pitching-style perspective, Kershaw reminds me of a young Barry Zito with the 12/6 curve but with way more fastball. Bum reminds me more of Steve Carlton with the lower release point and nasty slider. However, they both look like they could have starred on the Andy Griffith Show. 🙂

ClutchUp

I’m glad you said what you said SCJim, because as a fan of baseball I use to drive to Oakland and watch those A’s with Wash as their Infield coach and I’m not sure there is another baseball person in the game who is as well respected as Ron. Sadly there are ‘experts’ here who have denigraded his game skills and even referenced Dusty. All I know is Nolan might make a change this time however up to now, including his bout with substance abuse Wash has had the full backing of the Rangers FO and is revered by players on other teams (Chavez) and his own players.

ClutchUp

CC: His idol is Darren Lewis (thus the #2) who’s now coaching at Cal State East Bay. If his offensive game resembled DLew – I could settle for that …

channelclemente

You (he) have my vote.

South City Jim

There saying that if the score stands, Darvish loses his fourth 1-0 decision of the year…a new MLB record. Now that’s what I call getting “Cained”.

channelclemente

Washington isn’t the Rangers problem, it’s the lesser Maddux, IMO, and his incredibly inept development of that staff. I can only hope Ryan sees it, it would be ashamed if they did to Washington what they did to Showalter and cut their nose off to spite their face.

I don’t think Pence is playing his way out. I think he just watched 2 outs at ATT go out at Chavez ravine to help make up his mind.

ClutchUp

The photo of the two Leftys above. Bum could have been in O Brother, Where Art Thou? and ClayTON in Mayberry RFD like SCJ mentioned.

ClutchUp

Pence will re-sign (not resign himself to leaving)

2holehitting

Conser this Pill has never started more than 10 games in any month for the Giants and the most games he ever started in a row is 3. Hardly a way to evaluate a potential talent.

But to those who say his is a 4A hitter

B. Pill v Belt

Pill
8 rbi’s last 9 starts

BA =.314 in games started

Slugging 490 as a starter

1 home run every 26PA as a starter

BB9

8RBI’s last 25 games

BA=282 in games started

Slugging 463 as a starter

1 homer run every 36 at bats as a starter

No home runs in the last 24 games

Sure small sample sizes but the numbers show that Pill can hit major league pitching and can be a run producer when starting. He just will not get the opportunity with the Giants and he sucks as a pinch hitter.

Pinch hitting is one of the toughest rolls that few succeed at. You see a pitcher once when cold. As a starter you see hime 2 3 or 4 times in a game and can adjust through the at bats.

2holehitting

Says more about Pill and being able to see more than 3 or 4 pitches in a game.

channelclemente

It appears he Nationals may be backing into a wild card spot, with a little luck. Wouldn’t that be a rip if they pulled off a 2011 Cardinals like feat.

channelclemente

This is the end of dreamland in Chavez if Rameriz goes down. Its him and not Puig that makes the engine go.

To my eyes, it looks like several Dodgers are teetering on the edge of the DL. Was it Crawford who scored on the walk-off Thur and got up hopping four times in a row on only his right foot? Ethier with his awkward pull-up at 2B last night… Ramirez has already had a couple ‘iffy’ moments…

And some of these guys spent time on the DL already. Going intot the postseason with so many on the verge of the a DL Stint… Could really blow up whatever momentum they’ve built since their season turnaround and saving Mattingly’s job.

ClutchUp

Even though Davey Johnson has the Nats playing hard enough to only be 4+back in their WC chase, things like this last month pop up with Mr. Harper.

Soon in LA LA land somebody will start chirping that its head trainer Sue Falsone’s fault. Dodgers once ran Kim Ng out of town cause Tommy was paranoid. Won’t be long now that Stan Conte will have to come down from being (lol) Vice President of Medical Services.

channelclemente

So it seems.

ClutchUp

You cut and paste from Excell is showing through…

carmot

For any following Ma-kun Tanaka: yesterday he pitched another CG for an NPB record-setting 21st consecutive win in one season.25 consecutive wins going back to last year.

1 ER, 2 R, 10 H, 0 BB, 8 SO

He has plenty of MLB scouts following him now. His posting fee should destroy Darvish’s $51.7M record. I sure wish our owners would open their wallets for him, but I expect otherwise. His stuff is incredible.

paul in p.v.

Clutch – cute guys! Ahem – South Jim may have said so too – but Snorkel noticed “Opie” first!! ;o)

paul in p.v.

Gracias C/C – always wished I coulda seen a game at Seals Stadium.

paul in p.v.

South – Bum = Mickey Lolich? He reminds me big time of some other lefty from that era.

channelclemente

You can really see how big the Polo Grounds were in the photos too.

ClutchUp

The Snorks also had a keen eye!

DrLefty

What’s wild is that he almost exclusively played the infield for months in Fresno this year. As gifted an outfielder as he is, wow, if he’s anything decent as an infielder, he could be an incredibly valuable utility guy.

carmot

I think reports have said straightaway CF was 505 ft. In the photos at Club Level AT&T, there is a photo of the crowd/Giants team celebrating out at CF (May’s “Catch” game?, he’s in the photo), and IIRC the wall has a 483 ft marker on it.

carmot

I wish they had a ‘historical marker’ where home plate was. Wasn’t Seal Stadium in the lot where the Potrero Safeway now sits? When I go out there, I always think about this.

stickman

Good point, CC. Puig got them going before pitchers started figuring him out. HanRam, though, has been their steady producer with backup from here and there in the Bum’s LU.

carmot

Perez has publicly stated he’s a natural OF, and feels more comfortable playing the outfield. But yeah, he should hold great value as one of our bench guys for 2014+. I can’t really imagine his IF defense being much worse than Abreu’s…

Not that Abreu has been terrible. But he hasn’t made all the plays, either. Only way to find out if Perez is ‘serviceable’ or better at 2B (for instance) is to get him in. MLB game speed is a whole different world.